Rensselaer Union, Volume 9, Number 9, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 16 November 1876 — “Millions In It." [ARTICLE]

“Millions In It."

Riding down one of the canyons in the neighboring 1, says a Colorado letter in the Liberal Christian, I came upon a log hut by the side of a stream. Beyond it was a potjito patch, in which a woman in a huge sun-bonnet and five Baie-legged children were digging out their morning meal. As I neared the spot an unsavorylooking man, with sdapy locks and unkempt beard, appeared at the door ax in hand. Saluting him, I inquired my way, and incidentally alluded to the' mining operations along the Canyon. ‘ ‘ They don’t know nothing ’bout mining in this district,” returned the wood-cutter, for such he was. “It takes a man that has been all through Californy and Arizoqy to know how to work a lead. Beta' alt through them countries, stranger, I have. Reckon I could put ’em up to a thing or twe. Am I mining jnysclt? Wall, yes, generally I be, I’ve got a mine that betas anything in the Territory. I m ail right, I am—l’ve got all I want. What is it? Platiny, sir! Platioy! Not working it just now, sir; no. I’m thinking ot taking my family down to the Centennial,- I am. rd like to show off a little to the boys. That’flall right, I reckon, if * inta’sgot the color, ain’t it? Expensive

trip. Of course, of course, but expense ain't do account to me. Why, I reckon I'm worth a million and a half!” (This with emphasis.) I felt; ’ and ‘no doubt looked, sufficiently Impressed, but could not help casting a dubious glance at the ragged group in the potato field. “ Them's my wife and children, sir—healthy looking, hey f We’re only a-stay-ing here for our health, like. Fine afr, sir, fine air—finest con airy In the world, sir I Where is mme located f l Over yonder.” and he swept the horizon vaguely with his thumb? “ It’g, kivettd up with brush, sir, now. Needs capital, sir, to develop It. But I kin command it, I kin. Like you to sea a.- piece of the ore, sir. The man down at the toll-gate, he’s got some of it. You ask him and he’ll show you a bit of rock as is a sure cure for sore Ses— you just bet your life on that. ichest thing in the Territory, sir.” Then, in a confidential whisper, he added, “ I don’t mind letting you in on a small interestr-rif you’ve got capital, mind! Capital alone, sir, kin git a foot of that lode. Not that I want, to sell— ncsir! Well, good day, stranger—She you again —you go and look at that there rock at the toll-gate—that’s all.” And giving his sombrero a lofty pull over his eyes, and shouldering hw ax, this incipient Col. Sellers strode grandly away, leaving me duly awe-stnsck and admiring.